Vegetarian Foods High in Vitamin D

by
BETHANY LALONDE Last Updated: Jan 09, 2014

Bethany Lalonde

Bethany Lalonde has been a professional writer since 1997. She has published for CBS Health Watch, WebMD, the "Ann Arbor Daily News" and "Entertainment Weekly." She holds two masters degrees from the University of Michigan, in dietetics and nutrition as well as journalism.

Eggs.Photo Credit Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Wavebreak Media/Getty Images

There are two forms of vitamin D that are commonly found as a supplement or in foods, vitamin D2, also known as aergocalciferol, and vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol. You’re your body is exposed to direct sunlight, your body synthesizes vitamin D, but vitamin D is also available in limited quantities in some vegetarian-friendly foods. If you are a pesco-vegetarian, also known as a pescatarian, or if you are an ovo-lacto vegetarian, you can get vitamin D from fatty fish, dairy products, and eggs, respectively. For vegans, soy products are frequently fortified with vitamin D.

Recommended Daily Intake

Vitamin D capsules.Photo Credit Kitty Ellis/iStock/Getty Images

The daily recommended intake for vitamin D for adults and children -- male and female -- is 600 international units per day. If you are over 70 years old, it is recommended that you get 800 international units per day. For infants, the daily recommended amount is 400 international units, and the upper limit for adult ingestion is 4,000 international units. It is not recommended that you ingest more than this amount, and prolonged over-consumption could lead to vitamin D toxicity, because vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that your body stores.

Dairy Products and Eggs for Ovo-lacto Vegetarians

Glass of milk.Photo Credit David Selman/Fuse/Fuse/Getty Images

In the U.S., most liquid cow's milk is fortified with vitamin D, and eggs contain vitamin D naturally. A large, raw, whole egg contains over 17 IU of vitamin D, which is 4 percent of the recommended daily amount for adults. Although it can be difficult to get sufficient dietary vitamin D, each cup of milk contains about 25 percent of the recommended daily amount, so drinking milk every day helps.

Soy Products for Vegans

Soybeans.Photo Credit chibosaigon/iStock/Getty Images

Fortified soy products are rich sources of dietary vitamin D. A 1-cup serving of soy milk contains 30 percent of the daily recommended intake, with almost 119 international units of vitamin D per serving. However, not all soy products are vitamin D fortified, so you must read the label. Fortified almond milk is a good source of vitamin D, too.

Fatty Fish for Pescatarians

Fresh sardines.Photo Credit Image Source/Photodisc/Getty Images

If you are a pescatarian and you eat fish but no other meat, then you are in luck, because fatty fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines, are a rich source of vitamin D. A 3-ounce serving of sardines, contains all the vitamin D you need in a day. You can also get vitamin D from oysters.

Direct Sun Exposure

Sun exposure.Photo Credit Iakov Kalinin/iStock/Getty Images

Your body can synthesize vitamin D when you expose your skin to direct sunlight. Ten to 15 minutes of direct sun exposure, with no sunscreen, about three times a week is usually enough. However, this will change, depending on the season and your geographical location. As well, those with darker skin will require more sun exposure, as darker skin is less efficient with vitamin D production. Even if you are unable to get enough sun exposure each week, taking care to eat vitamin D-fortified foods as a supplement to your sun exposure will ensure that you maintain healthy vitamin D levels.